Gorilla Legislative Network Newsletter

This week, the Senate Ways and Means and House Education Budget Committees both endorsed the Governor’s recommendations on the PSU budget for fiscal years ’14 and ’15.  While we are still early in the process and much can happen between now and the 90th day, these were important steps toward securing level funding along with the Governor’s proposed special annual enhancement of $1 million for development and implementation of the new polymer chemistry degree program.  Consideration of the House Education Budget Committees’ recommendation now moves to the full House Appropriations Committee where deliberations are slated for Monday morning February 25^th.

Since the opening gavel just over a month ago, the most pressing issue of this legislative session has been the nearly $500 million projected two-year shortfall. Essential to Governor Brownback’s budget proposal is an accompanying revenue package proposal. This revenue proposal would make permanent the full 1-cent sales tax passed in 2010, six tenths of which is currently scheduled to expire July 1 (resulting in just over $250 million in additional revenue).

The Governor has also proposed elimination of two state income tax deductions – the state mortgage interest and property tax deductions.  By eliminating these deductions in addition to the extension of the sales tax, the Governor projects the budget gap would be filled. On February 12^th the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee endorsed the revenue plan minus elimination of the property tax deduction (valued at around $60 million) forwarding the measure to the full Senate.  To date, the House has been reluctant to consider any revenue enhancements. Some legislators are instead suggesting a 7.5% across the board cut to address the projected shortfall (including funding for all levels of education). Such action would likely mean a cut in funding of more than $2.5 million to PSU.

On Wednesday January 30^th, classified employee representatives from the six Regent institutions gathered under the Dome for a day filled with legislative meetings focused on the concerns of university classified staffs. The Classified and Support Staff Council, a group comprised of representatives from each institution, convened in September (at PSU) to  draft and approve their advocacy positions for 2013. This year the CSSC is focusing its advocacy efforts on a 2.5% COLA adjustment, and funding for the 5^th year of a market pay adjustment that was originally adopted by the legislature in 2008.

As in years past, President Steve Scott and Director of Government and Community Relations, Shawn Naccarato, joined the PSU contingent in their day of advocacy.

On February 12^th, students from the six Regents institutions met under the Dome to advocate on behalf of higher education in Kansas. Among these students were 37 very bright and capable representatives from PSU who made the bus trek from Pittsburg to Topeka.

The focus of these student advocacates was on the significant economic benefits of state investments in higher education. Among the economic data students shared with legislators was that for every $1 of tax payer money the KBOR system produced $11.94 in economic return. Additionally, students emphasized the role of higher education in the Kansas economy, particularly the essential role of higher education in development of a trained and ready workforce.

In addition to the economic argument for continued investment in education, students also focused on two issues legislative concern – continued access to instate tuition for qualified undocumented students, and the opposition of Regents student government associations, campus chiefs of police and faculty to allowing concealed carry on campus.

Spending the day on the Hill provided an exceptional learning opportunity for PSU students. Additionally, there is no better advocacy for our university than interaction with our fine students.

This year we’ve made it easier for you to stay connected and informed about all PSU government & community relations efforts during the legislative session and beyond.

If you love concise, detailed analysis of legislative activities then I encourage you to follow The Capitol Gorilla blog. Updated throughout the week, This blog is a great way to find out the latest happenings under the dome and in the capital city.

Of course, for the closest thing to “real-time” dispatches from the capitol, follow us on Twitter @capitolgorilla.

Calendar

-        Mar 1: Turnaround Day

-        Apr 5: Drop Dead Day & First Adjournment

-        Apr 6-May 7: BREAK

-        May 8-24: Veto Session

-        May 24: 90^th Day